Airbus not alone

Airbus has received £340m in government loans to help secure future A350 XWB activities in the south-west region.

The investment is expected to create and sustain 1,200 jobs within Airbus’s facilities in Filton, near Bristol, and Broughton in North Wales, as well as more than 3,800 jobs in the supply chain.

Business secretary Peter Mandelson said that the agreement was ‘excellent news’ for the UK aerospace industry and would allow the country’s aerospace-component manufacturers to improve their competitiveness in the global market.

‘This agreement is further evidence of this government’s long-term commitment to the UK aerospace industry and its future success,’ he said.

‘Aerospace is one of the UK manufacturing’s crown jewels and manufacturing is one of the UK economy’s crown jewels.’